An automatic apparatus includes an input platform, a creature shaking mechanism, a flushing unit and an output platform. The input platform has a transporting unit. A creature container containing at least one creature is placed on the input platform. The creature shaking mechanism is connected to the input platform. When the creature container is transported to a positioning region of the creature shaking mechanism, the creature container is subject to a shaking operation in response to a power source, thereby turning over the creature and exposing different surfaces of the at least one creature. The flushing unit generates a spout of water to flush the different surfaces of the at least one creature so as to sufficiently shed superficial adherent substances off the at least one creature. The output platform is connected to the creature shaking mechanism for receiving the creature container that is departed from the positioning region.
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1. An automatic apparatus for shedding superficial adherent substances off at least one creature, said automatic apparatus comprising:
an input platform having a transporting unit, wherein a creature container containing said at least one creature having a plurality of superficial adherent substances thereon is placed on said input platform, and said creature container is transported by said transporting unit;
a creature shaking mechanism having an input end connected to said input platform, wherein when said creature container is transported by said transporting unit to a positioning region of said creature shaking mechanism, and said creature container is subject to a shaking operation in response to a power source, thereby turning over said creature and exposing different surfaces of said at least one creature;
a flushing unit disposed at one side of said positioning region for performing a flushing operation on said creature container and generating a spout of water to flush said different surfaces of said at least one creature so as to sufficiently shed said superficial adherent substances off said at least one creature; and
an output platform connected to an output end of the creature shaking mechanism for receiving said creature container that is departed from said positioning region.
23. An automatic process for shedding superficial adherent substances off at least one creature, said automatic process comprising steps of:
providing a power source;
providing an input platform having a first transporting unit, wherein said input platform is connected to an input end of a creature shaking mechanism, and said first transporting unit is electrically connected to the power source;
successively and intermittently placing multiple creature containers on said input platform;
driving said first transporting unit to automatically and successively transport said creature containers to a positioning region of said creature shaking mechanism, wherein each of said creature containers contains said at least one creature having a plurality of superficial adherent substances thereon;
performing a shaking operation on said creature containers that are transported to said positioning region by said creature shaking mechanism in response to said power source, so that said at least one creature is turned over to expose different surfaces of said at least one creature;
providing a flushing unit disposed at a side of said positioning region for performing a flushing operation to generate a spout of water to flush said different surfaces of said creature so as to sufficiently shed said superficial adherent substances of said at least one creature;
providing an output platform having a second transporting unit, wherein said output platform is connected to an output end of said creature shaking mechanism, and said second transporting unit is electrically connected to the power source; and
transporting a next creature container to said positioning region by said first transporting unit to push forward a previous creature container that has been subject to said shaking operation and said flushing operation, and driving said second transporting unit to transport said previous creature container to be departed from said positioning region and completely moved to said output platform.
2. The automatic apparatus according to
3. The automatic apparatus according to
4. The automatic apparatus according to
5. The automatic apparatus according to
6. The automatic apparatus according to
7. The automatic apparatus according to
two sets of stationary partition plates disposed on left and right sides of said open frame and arranged in a direction parallel with a transporting direction of said creature container; and
two sets of movable partition plates disposed on front and rear sides of said open frame, arranged in a direction perpendicular to said transporting direction of said creature container, and selectively uplifted or descended, wherein said movable partition plates are uplifted to confine said creature container and prevent departure of said creature container from said positioning region during said shaking operation is performed.
8. The automatic apparatus according to
9. The automatic apparatus according to
10. The automatic apparatus according to
11. The automatic apparatus according to
12. The automatic apparatus according to
an exhaust structure disposed under said open frame for collecting or exhausting said superficial adherent substances and/or said spout of water flushing said at least one creature during said flushing operation is performed; and
a water baffle arranged between said power source and said positioning region for isolating said power source from said positioning region, so that a short circuit of said power source caused by said spout of water during said flushing operation is performed is avoided.
13. The automatic apparatus according to
14. The automatic apparatus according to
15. The automatic apparatus according to
16. The automatic apparatus according to
17. The automatic apparatus according to
18. The automatic apparatus according to
19. The automatic apparatus according to
20. The automatic apparatus according to
21. The automatic apparatus according to
22. The automatic apparatus according to
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This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Taiwan Patent Application No. 097108713, filed on Mar. 12, 2008, and Taiwan Patent Application No. 097134178, filed on Sep. 5, 2008, in the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates to an automatic apparatus and an automatic process for shedding superficial adherent substances off an object, and more particularly to an automatic apparatus and an automatic process for shedding superficial adherent substances off at least one creature.
In the fields of food-processing and aquatic products and fishery industry, it is a continuous research issue to develop and improve a rapid and automatic way for shedding superficial adherent substances off creatures (e.g. fishes).
Taking conventional automatic apparatus and process for shedding fish scales as an example. After a fish is manually clamped, the fish scales are automatically or semi-automatically shed off the fish by a scraper set of the automatic apparatus. The same procedure is repeated until the fish scales of all fishes are shed off. In addition, another conventional automatic apparatus employs a flushing unit comprising a water source, a pressurizing motor and many high-pressure water pipes instead of the scraper set. The high-pressure spout of water generated by the pressurizing motor is employed to shed the fish scales off the clamped fishes one by one.
Moreover, the above mentioned apparatus may further comprise a channel with a conveyor belt for transporting the fishes into the channel one by one. Afterwards, the fish scales are automatically shed off the fishes so as to reduce the time period of processing the fishes.
The above techniques, however, still have some drawbacks. For example, since the procedure of shedding the fish scales should be performed on a single fishes in a clamped status or in the channel for each time, the processing speed is restricted. In addition, the conventional automatic apparatus and process fail to simultaneously shed the fish scales off multiple fishes and thus the throughput is usually insufficient.
An object of the present invention provides an automatic apparatus and an automatic process for turning over a creature and exposing different surfaces of the creature, thereby shedding the superficial adherent substances off the creature.
Another object of the present invention provides an automatic apparatus and an automatic process for simultaneously shedding the superficial adherent substances off multiple creatures.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic apparatus for shedding superficial adherent substances off at least one creature. The automatic apparatus includes an input platform, a creature shaking mechanism, a flushing unit and an output platform. The input platform has a transporting unit. A creature container containing the at least one creature having a plurality of superficial adherent substances thereon is placed on the input platform. The creature container is transported by the transporting unit. The creature shaking mechanism has an input end connected to the input platform. When the creature container is transported by the transporting unit to a positioning region of the creature shaking mechanism, and the creature container is subject to a shaking operation in response to a power source, thereby turning over the creature and exposing different surfaces of the at least one creature. The flushing unit is disposed at one side of the positioning region for performing a flushing operation on the creature container and generating a spout of water to flush the different surfaces of the at least one creature so as to sufficiently shed the superficial adherent substances off the at least one creature. The output platform is connected to an output end of the creature shaking mechanism for receiving the creature container that is departed from the positioning region.
In an embodiment, the superficial adherent substances are grown on the surfaces of the creature.
In an embodiment, said creature is a fish and the superficial adherent substances are fish scales.
In an embodiment, the at least one creature contained in the creature container includes multiple creatures, wherein the creature container is subject to said shaking operation in response to the power source so as to turn over said multiple creatures and rub the multiple creatures against each other, thereby facilitating shedding the superficial adherent substances off the multiple creatures.
In an embodiment, the input platform is a stationary frame, the transporting unit includes an electric push rod electrically connected to the power source, and one side of the creature container that is placed on the stationary frame is pushed forwardly by the electric push rod to the positioning region of the creature shaking mechanism.
In an embodiment, the creature shaking mechanism includes a hollow-grid type structure and a shaking member, the shaking member being electrically connected to the power source.
In an embodiment, the positioning region is disposed at the middle of the open frame, and the creature shaking mechanism further includes two sets of stationary partition plates and two sets of movable partition plates. The two sets of stationary partition plates are disposed on left and right sides of the open frame and arranged in a direction parallel with a transporting direction of the creature container. The two sets of movable partition plates are disposed on front and rear sides of the open frame, arranged in a direction perpendicular to the transporting direction of the creature container, and selectively uplifted or descended. During the shaking operation of the creature container is performed, the movable partition plates are uplifted to confine the creature container and prevent departure of the creature container from the positioning region.
In an embodiment, the creature shaking mechanism further comprises a wire cage, which is supported on upper edges of the stationary partition plates, for preventing detachment of the creature during the shaking operation of the creature container is performed.
In an embodiment, the shaking member includes several pivot shafts, several pivot slices and several pivot holes, which are arranged and connected between the power source and the open frame.
In an embodiment, the power source includes a driving motor and a rotatable wobble disk electrically connected with the driving motor, and the rotatable wobble disk is pivotally coupled to a main pivot shaft of the pivot shafts.
In an embodiment, the power source comprises a pump and a pneumatic driving device connected with the pump, and the pneumatic driving device is pivotally coupled to a main pivot shaft of said pivot shafts.
In an embodiment, the creature shaking mechanism further includes an exhaust structure and a water baffle. The exhaust structure is disposed under the open frame for collecting or exhausting the superficial adherent substances and/or the spout of water flushing the at least one creature during the flushing operation is performed. The water baffle is arranged between the power source and the positioning region for isolating the power source from the positioning region, so that a short circuit of the power source caused by the spout of water during the flushing operation is performed is avoided.
In an embodiment, the exhaust structure comprises a drain tank and a drain pipe.
In an embodiment, the flushing unit includes a water source, a pressurizing motor and at least one flushing pipe, and the spout of water generated by the pressurizing motor is a high-pressure spout of water that flushes the at least one creature in either a fixed direction or a non-fixed direction.
In an embodiment, the creature container is a closed cavity with a cover for preventing the at least one creature from dropping out of the creature container during the shaking operation; and alternatively the creature container is an open cavity.
In an embodiment, the creature container has at least one hole for the at least one flushing pipe to pierce through when the creature container is a closed cavity with a cover; and alternatively the at least one flushing pipe is above said creature container when said creature container is an open cavity.
In an embodiment, the shaking operation includes one or more actions selected from an upward/downward reciprocated vibrating action, a forward/backward moving action, a leftward/rightward moving action, a turning-over action, a rotating action and a combination thereof.
In an embodiment, the output platform is a horizontal stationary frame and includes an additional transporting unit. The transporting unit is electrically connected to the power source for completely departing the creature container from the positioning region.
In an embodiment, the additional transporting unit includes an additional electric push rod electrically connected to the power source, and another side of the creature container is pulled by the additional electric push rod.
In an embodiment, the power source includes several solenoid valves for driving and controlling the transporting unit of the input platform, one of the movable partition plates of the creature shaking mechanism and the additional transporting unit of the output platform.
In an embodiment, the output platform is an inclined stationary frame having a slant surface, and the creature container slides along the slant surface such that the creature container is completely departed from the positioning region.
In an embodiment, each of the transporting unit of the input platform and the additional transporting unit of the output platform includes a belt-type roller assembly having a conveyor belt and a roller set.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic process for shedding superficial adherent substances off at least one creature. Firstly, a power source is provided. Next, an input platform having a first transporting unit is provided, wherein the input platform is connected to an input end of a creature shaking mechanism, and the first transporting unit is electrically connected to the power source. Multiple creature containers are successively and intermittently placed on the input platform. Next, the first transporting unit is driven to automatically and successively transport the creature containers to a positioning region of the creature shaking mechanism, wherein each of the creature containers contains the at least one creature having a plurality of superficial adherent substances thereon. Next, a shaking operation is performed on the creature containers that are transported to the positioning region by the creature shaking mechanism in response to the power source, so that the at least one creature is turned over to expose different surfaces of the at least one creature. A flushing unit is provided at a side of the positioning region for performing a flushing operation to generate a spout of water to flush the different surfaces of the creature so as to sufficiently shed the superficial adherent substances of the at least one creature. Next, an output platform having a second transporting unit is provided, wherein the output platform is connected to an output end of the creature shaking mechanism, and the second transporting unit is electrically connected to the power source. A next creature container is transported to the positioning region by the first transporting unit to push forward a previous creature container that has been subject to the shaking operation and the flushing operation. Afterwards, the second transporting unit is driven to transport the previous creature container to be departed from the positioning region and completely moved to the output platform.
The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:
The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of this invention are presented herein for purpose of illustration and description only. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed.
In this context, the superficial adherent substances are grown on the surfaces of the creatures. The present invention will be illustrated by referring fishes and fish scales as the creatures and the superficial adherent substances, respectively. Nevertheless, the automatic apparatus and the automatic process of the present invention can also be applied to shed mucosa off eels. Moreover, other creature characteristics of fish such as species, size, appearance and weight can be taken into consideration.
Hereinafter, the operations of the automatic apparatus 10 will be illustrated with reference to
According to the practical requirements and depending on the size of the input platform 11, two or more neighboring creature containers 20 can be simultaneously placed on the input platform 11.
The operations of the creature shaking mechanism 12 according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention will be illustrated in more details with reference to
Alternatively, said power source includes a pump and a pneumatic driving device connected with said pump (not shown), and said pneumatic driving device is pivotally coupled to a main pivot shaft of said pivot shafts.
The creature shaking mechanism 12 comprises an open frame 121 with a hollow-grid type structure 1210 and a shaking member 122. The shaking member 122 is electrically connected to the power source 15. The hollow-grid type structure 1210 is disposed at the middle of the open frame 121 and served as the positioning region 1210 for positioning the creature container 20. The creature container 20 is transported to the creature shaking mechanism 12 in a transporting direction S. In a direction parallel with the transporting direction S, two sets of stationary partition plates 1211 and 1212 are disposed on the left and right sides of the open frame 121. In a direction perpendicular to the transporting direction S, two sets of movable partition plates 1213 and 1214 are disposed on the front and rear sides of the open frame 121. The movable partition plates 1213 and 1214 can be uplifted or descended. In a case that the creature container 20 is subject to the shaking operation, the movable partition plates 1213 and 1214 are uplifted to confine the creature container 20, thereby preventing departure of the creature container 20 from the positioning region 1210.
The shaking member 122 includes several pivot shafts, several pivot slices and several pivot holes. These pivot shafts, pivot slices and pivot holes are connected between the power source 15 and the open frame 121. A main pivot shaft 1221 of these pivot shafts is pivotally coupled to the rotatable wobble disk 152 of the power source 15.
The shaking member 122 further includes an exhaust structure 123 and a water baffle 124. The exhaust structure 123 is disposed under the open frame 121. The water baffle 124 is arranged between the power source 15 and the positioning region 1210 for isolating the power source 15 from the positioning region 1210. The fish scales that are shed off of the fishes 30 and/or a spout of water that flushes the fishes 30 can be exhausted or collected by the exhaust structure 123. Since the power source 15 is isolated from the positioning region 1210 by the water baffle 124, the spout of water fails to render a short circuit of the power source 15 during the flushing operation is performed. In some embodiments, the exhaust structure 123 comprises a drain tank 1231 and a drain pipe 1232.
During the shaking operation is performed, the fishes 30 are turned over and rubbed against each other. For preventing detachment of the fishes 30 from the creature container 20 during the shaking operation is performed, the creature shaking mechanism 12 further comprises a wire cage 125 (as shown in
Hereinafter, a process of using the creature shaking mechanism 12 to perform the flushing operation and the shaking operation will be illustrated in more details with reference to
The main pivot shaft 1221 of these pivot shafts is pivotally coupled to the rotatable wobble disk 152 of the power source 15. In a case that the rotatable wobble disk 152 is driven by the driving motor 152, the rotatable wobble disk 152 is rotated in a clock-wise direction to uplift one side of the open frame 121 and push forward the open frame 121 such that the open frame 121 is switched from a stationary status (as shown in
In this embodiment, the shaking operation is illustrated by an upward/downward reciprocated vibrating action. It is noted that, however, those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. For example, the shaking operation may further comprise a forward/backward moving action, a leftward/rightward moving action, a turning-over action, a rotating action and a combination thereof.
The first electric push rod 111 of the input platform 11, the movable partition plates 1213 and 1214 of the creature shaking mechanism 12 and the second electric push rod 131 of the output platform 13 are driven and controlled by several solenoid valves (not shown) of the power source 15. The control mechanism of the solenoid valves is known in the art, and is not described herein.
In
Differing from
In addition, the flushing unit 14 may be movably mounted on one side of the creature container 20 (and 201) in a reciprocated moving way.
The shaking operation H1(H2) and/or V1(V2) of the creature container 20 (and 201), as is described in the first preferred embodiment, includes one or more actions selected from an upward/downward reciprocated vibrating action, a forward/backward moving action, a leftward/rightward moving action, a turning-over action, a rotating action and a combination thereof. For example, the creature container 20 is subject to a leftward/rightward moving action of the shaking operation H1 in response to the lateral power source 15. Alternatively, the creature container 20 is subject to the leftward/rightward moving action H1 and an upward/downward reciprocated vibrating action V1 so as to sufficiently turn over the fishes 30.
Likewise, the shaking operation H2 and/or V2 of the creature container 201, as is described in the second preferred embodiment, includes one or more actions selected from an upward/downward reciprocated vibrating action, a forward/backward moving action, a leftward/rightward moving action, a turning-over action, a rotating action and a combination thereof. For example, the creature container 201 is subject to an upward/downward reciprocated vibrating action of the shaking operation V2 in response to the upward power source 15. Alternatively, the creature container 201 is subject to the upward/downward reciprocated vibrating action V2 and a leftward/rightward moving action H2 so as to sufficiently turn over the fishes 30.
In accordance with a key feature of the present invention, since multiple fishes 30 can be simultaneously contained in the creature containers 20 and 201, the shaking operation will turn over the fishes 30 and cause the fishes 30 to rub against each other. As a consequence, the speed of shedding the fish scales is enhanced. Moreover, in the assistance of the high-pressure spouts of water W, the fish scales at the margins (e.g. gills or ridges) of the fishes may be flushed clearly and rapidly.
Hereinafter, an automatic process for shedding superficial adherent substances off at least one creature according to the present invention will be illustrated with reference to the flowchart of
After the process is started (Step 110), a power source is provided (Step 111). Next, an input platform having a first transporting unit is provided, wherein the input platform is connected to an input end of a creature shaking mechanism and the first transporting unit is electrically connected to the power source (Step 112). Next, multiple creature containers are successively and intermittently placed on the input platform (Step 113). Next, the first transporting unit is driven to automatically and successively transport the creature containers to a positioning region of the creature shaking mechanism, wherein each of the creature containers contains the at least one creature having a plurality of superficial adherent substances thereon (Step 114). In response to the power source, a shaking operation is performed on the creature containers that are transported to the positioning region by the creature shaking mechanism, so that the at least one creature is turned over to expose different surfaces of the at least one creature (Step 115). Next, a flushing unit is provided at a side of the positioning region for performing a flushing operation to generate a spout of water to flush the different surfaces of the creature so as to sufficiently shed the superficial adherent substances of the at least one creature (Step 116). Next, an output platform having a second transporting unit is provided, wherein the output platform is connected to an output end of the creature shaking mechanism, and the second transporting unit is electrically connected to the power source (Step 117). Next a next creature container is transported to the positioning region by the first transporting unit to push forward a previous creature container that has been subject to the shaking operation and the flushing operation. Afterwards, the second transporting unit is driven to transport the previous creature container to be departed from the positioning region and completely moved to the output platform (Step 118). Until all creature containers have been subject to the shaking operations and the flushing operations, the process is terminated (Step 119).
From the above description, the creature container can be automatically transported by the input platform and the output platform of the automatic apparatus of the present invention. By means of the creature shaking mechanism, a shaking operation and a flushing operation are performed on the creatures to turn over the creatures and expose different surfaces of the creatures. As a result, the automatic apparatus and the automatic process of the present invention can effectively shed the superficial adherent substances off the creatures.
While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.
Hsieh, Chin-Chang, Hsu, Ming-Chiu
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Nov 15 2008 | HSIEH, CHIN-CHANG | TIANYUAN TOP QUALITY INDUSTRIAL CO , LTD | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 021971 | /0072 | |
Nov 15 2008 | HSU, MING-CHIU | TIANYUAN TOP QUALITY INDUSTRIAL CO , LTD | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 021971 | /0072 | |
Dec 09 2008 | Tianyuan Top Quality Industrial Co., Ltd. | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / |
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